Shrimp/prawn farming status in south-west region of Bangladesh in context of quality control and food safety issues

Abstract

To determine hazardous antibiotics/chemicals and pesticides residues in Good Aquaculture Practice(GAP) and non-GAP farms and exploring the post-harvest management techniques of shrimp/ prawn forensuring its food safety issues, a study was conducted from July 2016 to June 2019 in three upazilas viz.Bagerhat Sadar, Rampal and Kachua of Bagerhat district. A total of 550 shrimp/prawn farms were randomlysurveyed considering GAP criteria. The farms were categorized as Category A- the farms which comply 90-100% GAP criteria; Category B- farms which comply 70-< 90% GAP criteria and Category C- farms whichcomply 50-<70% GAP criteria. From the study it was found that only 1.67±0.58 % farms were underCategory-A, 37.67±6.81 % farms were under Category-B and 53±6.08 % farms were under Category-C. Atotal of 108 shrimp/prawn samples were collected in which 30% samples were from GAP farms and 70%samples were from non-GAP farms. Collected samples were analyzed for hazardous antibiotics/chemicals andpesticides residues (Heptachlor, Endrin, Dieldrin and DDT) using LC-MS and GC-MS machine. Nohazardous Nitrofuran and Chloramphenicol metabolites were found from the collected samples and noresidual concentrations of Heptachlor, Endrin, Dieldrin and DDT were found from GAP samples. In non-GAP samples, 14.8% samples contained some residues of Heptachlor, Endrin and Dieldrin in which 10.2%samples residues were lower than the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) which is not harmful for humanhealth. Only 4.6% samples had residues which were slightly higher than the MRL. Exploration of postharvestmanagement techniques of shrimp and prawn were done by observing the icing system quality andtransportation system from farms to market/depot. It was found that 5.67±2.08% farmer used proper icingand transportation system as well, 16.33±3.21% farmers used moderate icing and transportation system and78±2% farmers used poor icing and transportation system. It was also observed that pathogenic bacterialload was higher in poor icing and transportation system as well than the proper icing and transportationsystem. From the study it can be concluded that, if farmers follow at least 50% of the GAP criteria then thefoods (shrimp/prawn) will be safer for human consumption.